St. Marys River

The St. Marys River is a remote black water stream that originates in the Okefenokee Swamp and meanders for 130 miles until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at the southern end of Cumberland Island. With little development and few river crossings, the St. Marys River offers wilderness experience to those who travel its waters.

Prospects and Fishing Tips

Best Bets

REDBREAST SUNFISH, BLUEGILL & CATFISH

Catfish

Prospect

Catfish fishing should remain good this year. The river supports healthy populations of yellow and brown bullheads, channel catfish and white catfish.

Technique

Use worms, chicken livers, cut bait or your own secret bait fished on the bottom.

Target

Fish the deeper holes, which are usually located on outside bends in the river.

Bream

Prospect

Anglers should find good numbers of bream this year and chances of catching a 6-inch or larger redbreast sunfish are excellent. The river also supports a healthy bluegill population, and fish weighing 3/4-pound or greater should be fairly common this year. Although not as numerous, good sized redear sunfish, aka "shellcrackers," can also be caught while bream fishing in the St. Marys.

Technique

For redbreast sunfish: Crickets and worms are a given; small lures, such as beetle-spins work well when the water warms. For bluegill: Crickets and worms around cover in the creeks and oxbows of the lower river are the best bets.

Target

Try launching a canoe or small jon boat at St. George Landing and floating downstream approximately 30 miles to Traders Hill for excellent redbreast fishing. For bluegill: Target the lower half of St. Marys, from Traders Hill Recreational Area downstream.

Other Species

Prospect

Though bass are not as plentiful as in other rivers, anglers can land a wall-hanger.

Technique

Try casting spinnerbaits and pitching jigs or worms around heavy cover in current breaks or backwater areas.